Gold Coast race-by-race preview and tips for Saturday

It’s the big Hollindale Stakes meeting at the Gold Coast on Saturday and here’s my race-by-race preview and tips.

It’s the big Hollindale Stakes meeting at the Gold Coast on Saturday and here’s my race-by-race preview and tips.

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BEST BET:

INFANCY (Race 4 No 4)

NEXT BEST:

ECONOMICS (Race 9 No 8)

VALUE BET:

TORABELLA (Race 3 No 4)

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Quaddie numbers are:

Race 6 – 1,2,9

Race 7 – 3,4,8

Race 8 – 1,4,5,6

Race 9 – 1,2,8

$108 = 100 per cent of the dividend

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Race 1 – Benchmark 78 Handicap (2200m)

HECTOR DE MARIS (5) is fitter for three outings and drops significantly in class. He won when fourth-up last preparation, makes his own luck, and no one rides the Gold Coast better than Noel Callow.

BESTOWER (9) doesn’t win out of turn but brings Sydney Saturday form and finished in front of Fioprospero last start. She gives a start but is fitter for three outings, drops 1kg and Andrew Mallyon has been Kris Lees ‘go-to’ man for a long time.

Chris Waller brings them North to get a win and MISTRESSOFILLUSION (7) put the writing on the wall at Eagle Farm last start in a stronger Benchmark. Yet to break through since arrival in Australia, with Tommy Berry replacing Ron Stewart she won’t get a better chance.

FIOPROSPERO (6) returned to Sydney after back-to-back Brisbane wins and failed to flatter. The Sunshine State is more his playground, and Bailey Wheeler will have him running on late.

Verdict – HECTOR DE MARIS (5) is due.

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Race 2 – Benchmark 85 Handicap 1200m

TOWN CRIER (12) found John Rambo too good last start but was held up at a critical time and meets him 3kg better. He won here two starts back, Justin Stanley replaces Luke Dempsey and with the gun run and can turn the tables.

JOHN RAMBO (8) has won both outings since resuming and ran a huge race from a wide gate when last here. The barrier gods have not been kind again, but Matin Harley knows him well and will have him poised to strike.

METALART (2) gives them all weight but has won six of ten and been readied by a recent trial. He took a while to get going last preparation but from a good gate with Michael Rodd will get every opportunity.

MAJORELLE (6) was a consistent performer last preparation and dominant at Grafton when resuming. This is harder but a good gate helps, and Andrew Mallyon has had success previously.

Verdict – Wary of JOHN RAMBO (8) but with TOWN CRIER (12).

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Race 3 – Listed Silk Stocking (1400m)

A winner of seven of her 12 starts, TORABELLA (4) was never on the track when resuming, is unbeaten second-up and has an excellent record at this trip. Blake Shinn replaces Emily Lang and will have her placed to pounce throughout.

The stablemate FLOOZIE (11) has carried all before her since coming to Queensland and was dominant in a Benchmark 78 last week. She steps up in journey and has a tough gate but with Angela Jones staying on the form can’t be ignored.

EXOTIQUE MISS (5) disappointed last preparation but showed she is back in good order demolishing a Benchmark 85 field when resuming. Her second-up form is sound, the extra distance suits and she draws to do no work with Ethan Brown.

AERIAL DANCER (14) is resuming and has a victory over Exotique Miss last preparation. She has been readied by a trial, has won three of five at this trip and has an excellent first-up record. Ron Stewart won three times on her last preparation and knows what to do.

ARTS OBJECT (2) is hard to follow but has raced well here previously, is well treated under the conditions of this race and improves second-up. She will give a start but can power home for Tommy Berry.

Verdict – TORABELLA (4) will be hard to hold out.

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Race 4 – Listed Australian Turf Club Trophy (1200m)

Autumn is when INFANCY (4) blossoms and she mowed down a Group 2 field when resuming over this trip at Randwick. James McDonald replaces Jason Collett, she has raced well in Queensland previously and will be hard to hold out.

A winner of five of 11 and only out of the money once, NEED SOME LUCK (12) was in good form last preparation and got the job done despite a wide run when resuming. This is harder but he drops 1.5kg, Tommy Berry stays on and won’t be far away in running.

BOOM TORQUE (3) has a good record at the Gold Coast and looked ready to go at a recent trial. He gives a start but with Blake Shinn gets a nice sit from gate two and will be in the finish.

THE INFLICTOR (15) has returned in good order, improves second-up, drops 6.5kg and draws to do no work. The extra distance suits and he can take another step in his Stradbroke campaign.

Verdict – INFANCY (4) to frank her first-up win.

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Race 5 – Group 3 Ken Russell 2YO Classic (1200m)

Peter Snowden knows what it takes to win these and has brought BEADMAN (3) north after an easy win at Newcastle last start. He has improvement, James McDonald replaces Mitchell Bell and can control the race.

SUNRAYS (9) couldn’t have done any more at his first preparation winning all three starts including the Jewel Prelude. Readied by jumpouts, she steps up to 1200m for the first time and has a wide gate to negotiate. Tommy Berry replaces Cejay Graham and will find a way.

BETTERLUCKNEXTTIME (1) ran a brave race in the QTIS Jewel and has a bit more experience than most of these. He has been kept fresh by a recent trial and while the barrier gods haven’t been kind will finish off better than most.

LUCKY LASS (10) looked a handy type leading throughout on debut here and has trialled since. None ride leaders better than Tim Clark and she will be hard to pass.

Verdict – BEADMAN (3) is the one to beat.

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Race 6 – Group 3 Gold Coast 3YO Guineas (1200m)

EMIRATE (2)’s trials have been moderate, but he was taking on the likes of Traffic Warden and Broadsiding last preparation in far stronger races than this. Withdrawn from a race last week and saved for this, with James McDonald he will be hard to beat.

BOSUSTOW (1) has only won two of 13 but when last here won the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas and followed up with a Group 1 placing in New Zealand. His first-up record is moderate as have been his two trials, but Josh Parr stays on and he is by far the highest rated horse in the field.

Trained locally, SPICY MARTINI (9) has done little wrong in his short career and held them all off in the Listed Mick Dittman Plate a fortnight ago. This is harder, but two of his three wins have been at this trip and on his home ground gets all the favours with Kyle Wilson-Taylor from the ace draw.

Blinkers come off, a crossover noseband and tongue-tie go on WANARUAH (3) which is resuming after some bold efforts in the Melbourne Spring. His recent trials have been sound, and Tim Clark will take no prisoners.

Verdict – EMIRATE (2) will take beating here.

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Race 7 – Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m)

Chris Waller has four runners, all chances but I am with LINDERMANN (3) which has spent the Autumn chasing Via Sistina home and will appreciate the return to 1800m. The gate is no help, but he won the Craven Plate over this trip last spring and has enough speed for Nash Rawiller to find a spot and be hard to pass late.

ELIYASS (8) hasn’t done a lot wrong since coming to Australia and was competitive at Group 1 level last spring. His trials have been strong, he goes well fresh and with Tim Clark he will be near the speed throughout.

Annabel Neasham has won the last four of these and now with Rob Archibald has a good hand with two runners, the most interesting being FAWKNER PARK (4) which like Lindermann has been chasing Via Sistina home. Lindermann beat him home in the Craven Plate last spring but blinkers go on and with an even tempo likely will be strong late.

BUCKAROO (2) is fitter for two Group 1 outings and will find this trip to his liking. James McDonald jumps on and he cannot be discounted.

Verdict – Many chances, but with LINDERMANN (3).

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Race 8 – Listed Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m)

John Sargent has a good record with three-year-old fillies and MERIDIANA (5) ran on stoutly in the Princess Stakes behind Philia and Pinito. This extra distance suits, Damien Thornton stays on and she will be strong late.

PINITO (4) finds it hard to win but hasn’t missed a place at all four outings this preparation. She beat Meridana home last start and while this trip poses some questions cannot be ignored.

HEAT MISSILE (6) led them before being found out late in the Princess Stakes. She goes further here and has drawn out wide but Tim Clark replaces Regan Bayliss and that can make a difference.

REAL CLASS (1) is the highest rated horse in the field by virtue of her Group 2 win in New Zealand. She was well beaten in the Group 1 Vinery at her most recent Australian start but that was a different level to this and with a trial under her belt and James McDonald on her back, can improve.

Verdict – MERIDIANA (5) ready to win.

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Race 9 – Bat Out Of Hell Handicap (1000m)

ECONOMICS (8) is 1000m specialist and held them all off at Eagle Farm last start and drops 7.5kg here. Wanda Rox beat him home two starts back but he meets her 3.5kg better and gets the gun run in this.

WANDA ROX (2) has an excellent record at this trip and has nothing wrong in three starts since resuming. Noel Callow replaces Mark Du Plessis and she will be prominent for a long way.

There are two of NETTUNO (1) which has been competitive in better races than this but didn’t give a yelp when resuming in the Ascot Handicap. Blake Shinn replaces Damien Thornton and if the real deal turns up, he can make his presence felt.

FLAG HALL (9) won his only previous start here over this trip and wasn’t far away at Eagle Farm. He drops 10kg and back on home ground Robbie Dolan will have him poised to pounce.

Verdict – ECONOMICS (8) is weighted to win.

Originally published as Gold Coast race-by-race preview and tips for Saturday